District Contingency Plan

Over the past few months, the district has been working with Mayor Lori Lightfoot to present our educators and school support staff with fair contract offers that honor the hard work they do for our schools every single day.

The Chicago Teachers Union is currently on strike. As a result, CPS classes are canceled for Thursday, October 31. Although we are doing everything we can to reach agreements that benefit our school communities, we have plans in place to ensure our students stay safe during a strike.

Although regular classroom instruction will not occur, CPS school buildings will be open to students. Principals and non-unionized support staff will be available to greet students and ensure they have access to engaging activities.

• CPS school buildings will be open during their normal bell schedule. Students who need a safe place to go are encouraged to attend their regular school, but we will welcome students at any CPS school that is appropriate for their age.
• Charter and contract schools will continue to operate on their normal schedules, and families should look for any updates or changes from their principal or school/charter operator.
• All CPS schools will serve breakfast and lunch to students. Students will also be offered a meal to take home.
• After school activities will be canceled. This includes — but is not limited to — team practices and competitions, tutoring, field trips, Parent University activities, and other community activities.
• To ensure the safety and well-being of our students, CPS administrative office staff will be assigned to schools as needed.
• Chicago Public Libraries and Chicago Parks will also be open, along with Safe Haven sites and other community partner sites. A full list of alternative sites are listed in the site locator tool at the bottom of the page. More sites will be added as additional locations are identified.
• School transportation services will not be available for students. Free CTA transportation will be available to students.

If your child needs a safe place to go during a strike, enter your address into the site locator. It will show you the closest CPS schools, as well as nearby programs at parks, libraries, and other community sites that will welcome students. The site locator also provides information about non-CPS locations, including their hours and whether food will be available. If you plan to send your child to a CPS school, please complete the student registration form at the bottom of the page to register your child for the duration of the strike. Although registration is not mandatory, it helps ensure we have enough staff and meals to serve children each day.

You will need to know your child’s student ID number to register them. If you do not know your child's student ID number, please call your child's school. For security purposes, school staff will request your child’s name, birthdate, and primary point of contact before they share your child’s student ID number.