Administrative Hearings

Union Web Sites and Contact Information

Discipline Processes

Overview of Employee Discipline

The “Discipline Process Flowchart ” provides a high-level overview of the discipline processes for members of the Chicago Teachers Union, and all other unionized employees. For questions regarding navigating Aspen, please refer to the resources posted on the Aspen website.

In addition to any directives listed below for where disciplinary documentation should be sent, please email all disciplinary documentation and supporting documents to AdministrativeHearings@cps.edu to ensure the documentation is properly logged and recorded with the district.

Chicago Board of Education's Policies and Rules

The Chicago Board of Education's Policy Handbook and Rules include many provisions that regulate employee conduct.

• Read the Chicago Board of Education's Policy Handbook
• Read the Chicago Board of Education's Rules

Chicago Teachers Union's Discipline Process

Please e-mail Pre-Meeting Notices, Performance Improvements Plans and all supporting documentation to the Union at: grievancedepartment@ctulocal1.org and the CTU Field Representative. If needed, you can find your schools' assigned CTU representative's name and email on the Chicago Teachers Union website. The subject line for the email to the Union should include: member name, member position, school name, and the name of your school's assigned CTU field representative.

Please download the following templates of the discipline forms that should be used:

• Discipline Matrix
• Pre-Meeting Notice (Steps 1 and 2)
• Rescheduled Pre-Meeting Notice (Steps 1 and 2)
• Pre-Meeting Notice (Steps 3 and 4)
• Rescheduled Pre-Meeting Notice (Steps 3 and 4)
• PIP (Performance Improvement Plan)

In order to edit the Google Documents listed above, please go to File > Make a copy and save the document however you'd like on your Google Drive.

All Other Unions' Discipline Process

For Local 73 SEIU bargaining unit members: e-mail signed Notices of Pre-Discipline Hearing, with supporting documentation, and any signed Notices of Disciplinary Action that were not issued at the end of the meeting to: notices@seiu73.org and copy: krozwadowski@seiu73.org.

Please click the following links to access templates of the discipline documents that should be used:

• Employee Discipline and Due Process Policy
• Cautionary Notice
• Notice of Pre-Discipline Hearing
• Notice of Rescheduled Pre-Discipline Hearing
• Discipline Hearing Summary
• Written Reprimand
• Notice of Disciplinary Action

In order to edit the Google Documents listed above, please go to File > Make a copy and save the document however you'd like on your Google Drive.

Non-Union Employees

The Non-Union Employees Employment Guidelines provides an overview of the performance, management and discipline of non-union employees.

Please click the following links to access templates of the discipline documents that should be used:

• Discipline Matrix
• Non-Union Employee Performance Improvement Plan
• Non-Union Employee Misconduct Form

In order to edit the Google Documents listed above, please go to File > Make a copy and save the document however you'd like on your Google Drive.

Principals and Assistant Principals

The Principal and Assistant Principal Employment Guidelines set forth guidelines for the appointment, assignment, displacement, discipline and termination of principals and assistant principals.

Pre-Suspension Hearings for Tenured Teachers and Contract Principals

The Guidelines Governing Pre-Suspension Hearings for Tenured Teachers and Contract Principals provides protocols to suspend a teacher or contract principal without pay pending a Section 34-85 dismissal hearing.

"Do Not Hire"

Guidelines

• Current CEO Guidelines for Designating Separated Employees as Ineligible for Rehire (Amended May 21, 2021)
• Archived CEO Guidelines for Designating Separated Employees as Ineligible for Rehire (Amended October 1, 2015)

DNH Removal Request Procedures

Pursuant to the “CEO’s Guidelines for Designating Separated Employees as Ineligible for Rehire,” eligibility for rehire is a hiring standard that is within the sole discretion of the Board to establish.

Separated employees who have a “DNH” designation on their record may petition the CEO for removal by taking the steps outlined below:

1. Submit a letter (typewritten or handwritten) to the DNH Committee with a request to remove the DNH designation and an explanation of why the DNH designation is no longer valid or should be excused.
• You may limit your petition to volunteer or work for a CPS vendor as outlined in section V of the current guidelines.
• If you are a member of a bargaining unit, your exclusive representative may submit its opinion in writing about whether the DNH designation should be removed and reasons for its opinion.
2. You may include evidence in support of your request to remove the DNH designation, which includes letters of recommendation.
3. Please ensure that your letter includes a current mailing address and a phone number or e-mail address where you can be reached.
4. The letter and any accompanying documents must be emailed to the Office of Administrative Hearings at AdministrativeHearings@cps.edu.
5. The DNH Committee will review your request letter, accompanying documents and the circumstances in which you left CPS. The DNH Committee will give due consideration to the opinion of the labor organization, any exigent circumstances, subsequent remediation, or subsequent evidence.
6. A decision is generally rendered within ten (10) business days but please be advised that additional time may be required for some petitions.
7. The DNH Committee will inform you of its decision in writing, which will either be mailed or emailed to you at the mailing or email address you provided in your letter or to the last known mailing or email address CPS has on file for you.
8. You may request to remove the DNH designation at any time after the DNH has been placed; however, a request for removal will only be considered once every twelve (12) months.
9. Please note that the decision of whether to remove the DNH from your record is discretionary.

Sick Day Transfer

The Sick Day Transfer process has moved to the Absence and Disability Department located in the Talent Office. For more information, please visit the Absence and Disability website.

Reference Materials

OAH has compiled materials to assist principals, administrators and employees with understanding certain Board policies and rules, collective bargaining agreement provisions, and other labor relations issues. Please see below for available materials and check back for future updates.

Please click the following links to view the available reference materials:

Template Staff Handbook

• 2024-25 Template Staff Handbook

Employee Information

• 2024-25 Calendar for School-Based Union Employees

PPLC Information

• Guidelines on Establishment and Operation of the PPLC

Grading

• Professional Grading Standards and Practices Guidelines

Substitute Teachers

• Substitute Teacher Handbook

Administrative Hearings

• Administrative Hearing Norms for In-Person Hearings
• Administrative Hearing Norms for Remote Hearings

Grievance Process

• Grievance Process

Background Operating Procedures

• Background Operating Procedures

Employee Notices

CPS employees are entitled to receive notice in a conspicuous location of certain events or information regarding their rights. Please see below for current notices and check back regularly for future notices and updates.

Illinois Service Member Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

Effective January 1, 2019, the rights of Illinois employees serving in the military will be governed by the Illinois Service Member Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (ISERRA). For more information, please read Your Rights Under the Illinois Service Member employment and Reemployment Rights Act .

Notices to Employees from the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has filed a petition seeking to represent the following 4 job titles: Crisis Response Manager, Crisis Response Coordinator, Early College Network Support Specialist, and English Learner Network Specialist. Please read the Notice to Employees for more information.