Chicago will make up school days missed during the teachers strike by taking days from Thanksgiving and winter break, as well as swapping two teacher institute days in the summer.
That’s according to a revised calendar for the school year that the Chicago Public Schools board is being asked to approve this month.
The question of make-up days kept educators on picket lines for an extra day, bringing the Chicago Teachers Union strike to 11 days. While Mayor Lori Lightfoot initially said she would not permit make-up days, pressure from the union coupled with state requirements about makeup days resulted in a compromise.
The two sides agreed on five make-up days for the 2019-2020 school year. Here are the dates:
- Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019 – the day before Thanksgiving
- Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020 – the second-to-last day of winter break
- Friday, Jan. 3, 2020 – the last day of winter break
- Wednesday, June 17, 2020 – previously a staff training day
- Thursday, June 18, 2020 – previously a staff training day
The city is also asking the board to approve a revised budget for the year. One of the changes: “$68 million in reduced spending attributable to the six school days cancelled due to the strike that will not be made up.”
Chicagoans can comment on the proposed dates at the board meeting Nov. 20. The district will also hold public hearings on Nov. 12, 2019, from 4-6 p.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m. to collect feedback.
The revised calendar leaves no margin for other missed school days. In the case of adverse weather or other unforeseen events, additional days may need to be added to the school year. Last year, school was cancelled for several days due to huge snowfalls and subzero temperatures, and students made up the instructional time during the summer.