CTU Resists Trump Cuts With New 2025 Contract

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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Major Victory: Chicago Teachers Union Agreement Reached

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) have found common ground. They recently announced a tentative four-year contract agreement. This marks a significant win for labor, especially with potential challenges looming over national education policies (Details released on tentative CPS-CTU contract agreement). The deal stands out because it avoids the conflict seen in recent years.

Historically, negotiations haven’t always been smooth. Two of the last three contract talks led to teacher strikes (Chicago Teachers Union Reaches Tentative Contract Deal). This time, however, both sides worked to prevent a walkout. This agreement represents stability for educators, students, and families across Chicago, many within our communities. Furthermore, the union highlights this agreement as a proactive step (Tentative Agreement in the Headlines).

Significant CPS Teacher Raises Secured in Deal

Compensation is a cornerstone of the new agreement. Chicago educators are set to receive a substantial 16% total raise over the four-year life of the contract. These raises aren’t flat; annual increases will range between 4% and 8.5%. Additionally, teachers will continue to receive step-based raises recognizing their years of experience (Details released on tentative CPS-CTU contract agreement). This structure aims to attract and retain qualified educators.

The impact on teacher earnings will be noticeable. New teachers entering the district will start near $69,000. By the 2026-27 fiscal year, the average CPS teacher’s salary is projected to climb above $98,000 (Details released on tentative CPS-CTU contract agreement). These financial gains are crucial. They acknowledge the vital work teachers do, particularly in schools serving predominantly Black and Brown students, ensuring they can afford to live in the city they serve. Consequently, this investment could help stabilize staffing in historically underserved schools.

New Class Size Limits Chicago Schools Will See

Overcrowded classrooms have long been a concern for Chicago educators and families. The tentative agreement tackles this issue directly by establishing specific class size limits across different grade levels. For the youngest learners in Kindergarten, classes will be capped at 25 students. In Grades 1-3, the limit is set at 28 students, while Grades 4-8 will have a maximum of 30 students per class (Details released on tentative CPS-CTU contract agreement).

High schools also see defined limits, ranging from **29 to 31 students**, depending on the specific course or setting (Details released on tentative CPS-CTU contract agreement). Smaller class sizes allow teachers to provide more individualized attention. This is particularly beneficial for students needing extra support, which is often prevalent in schools facing resource disparities. Therefore, these limits represent a concrete step toward more equitable learning environments across the city.

Teachers Resisting Trump Education Policies Through Contract

The CTU leadership explicitly frames this contract as a tool to counteract potential negative shifts in federal education policy. CTU President Stacy Davis Gates called the agreement a “powerful” blueprint for resisting potential Trump-era education cuts (A Blueprint for Resisting Trump Education Cuts? Chicago Teachers Reach “Powerful” Tentative Contract). This proactive stance comes amid concerns about policies that could harm public education, particularly for marginalized students.

Concerns stem from past actions. The previous Trump administration, for instance, reduced Education Department staff significantly, potentially weakening the enforcement of crucial civil rights protections like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Title IX (NEA Files Suit to Defend Public Schools from Trump’s Reckless Cuts). Proposed cuts to Title I funding, which heavily supports low-income schools often serving Black communities, and weakened IDEA enforcement disproportionately impact students of color and those with disabilities (Trump’s Attack on the Department of Education, Explained; NEA Files Suit…). Furthermore, the elimination of contracts with the Institute of Education Sciences hindered vital research on student equity (Trump’s Education Department changes could lead to systemic ‘chaos’). The CTU contract aims to build local defenses against such potential federal actions.

Focus on Sanctuary Schools Protections and Curriculum

Specific provisions within the contract address key equity concerns. The agreement strongly reaffirms sanctuary school protections. While the provided sources don’t detail the exact nature of these protections within this specific contract, the term generally refers to policies limiting cooperation between schools and federal immigration enforcement. This offers a measure of security for immigrant students and their families, a significant population within CPS.

Critically, the contract guarantees the right to teach Black history and culturally responsive curricula. According to CTU President Stacy Davis Gates, this is a crucial defense against movements restricting discussions of race and history in classrooms (A Blueprint for Resisting Trump Education Cuts? Chicago Teachers Reach “Powerful” Tentative Contract). For Black students, seeing their history and culture reflected accurately in their education is vital for identity development and academic engagement. Indeed, securing these protections in the contract ensures that educators can continue this important work without fear of political interference.

Boosting Support: Prep Time, Benefits, and School Resources

Beyond salaries and class sizes, the tentative agreement includes several other enhancements. Elementary teachers will gain **10 extra minutes of daily preparation time**, bringing their weekly total to **350 minutes**. This additional time comes partly from reassigning some professional development days (Details released on tentative CPS-CTU contract agreement). More planning time allows teachers to prepare better lessons tailored to student needs.

Benefits are also expanded. The contract provides **tuition reimbursement** for up to 300 educators seeking endorsements in bilingual education or English as a Second Language (ESL). **Medical and dental insurance** options are broadened for employees earning under $90,000 annually. Notably, the insurance plans will cover **abortion services** and gender-affirming treatments (Details released on tentative CPS-CTU contract agreement). Additionally, student resources see a boost, with funding for sports programs set to **triple**, **aides assigned to all general education pre-K classrooms**, and an expansion of “sustainable schools” infrastructure projects from 20 to 70 facilities (Details released on tentative CPS-CTU contract agreement). Consequently, these varied improvements aim to create a more supportive environment for both staff and students.

Approval Process and Broader Context

Reaching a tentative agreement is a significant step, but not the final one. The proposed contract faced its first hurdle on April 2nd with a vote by the CTU’s House of Delegates. Assuming it passes that stage, it must then be approved by a vote of the full CTU membership (Details released on tentative CPS-CTU contract agreement). Finally, the Chicago Board of Education needs to formally authorize the contract for it to take effect (Tentative Agreement in the Headlines).

This agreement arrives amidst other discussions concerning CPS’s future. State Representative Curtis Tarver has proposed legislation that could place the district under the Illinois Finance Authority oversight, citing budget worries (Details released on tentative CPS-CTU contract agreement). While this contract aims to secure resources and protections, the broader financial and political landscape continues to evolve. Nevertheless, the union celebrated the deal on social media, calling it the **“largest leap forward”** for Chicago educators and students (CTU Instagram), signaling confidence in its positive impact.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.