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Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) have reached a proposed contract agreement that aligns with the District's strategic plan, prioritizing student-centered decisions. The CTU leadership will present the contract for approval by the House of Delegates and ratification by teachers. Following these steps, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez will forward the contract to the Chicago Board of Education for final approval. The agreement acknowledges the contributions of educators and considers the District’s budget constraints.
“Our CPS bargaining team has negotiated in good faith every step of the way and stayed true to our values for public education,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “We made sure that this agreement respects the hard work of our talented educators and reflects what’s best for students.” Martinez commended the negotiations team for their dedication throughout the bargaining process.
CPS aims to provide competitive wages and benefits to attract strong educators, offering a four percent raise plus step increases initially and four to five percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) raises for the subsequent years. The contract promises a pay raise of at least 16 percent over its duration, excluding step increases.
In School Year 2024, an entry-level teacher without a degree earned $66,330; the median salary was $94,966. The new contract raises these figures to nearly $69,000 and over $98,000, respectively, by FY26. CPS teachers contribute 2.66 percent of their salaries to health insurance, less than the private sector average.
An additional $30 million will be allocated over four years to reward long-serving educators and retain their expertise. CPS has restructured the REACH evaluation system to support teachers and ensure equitable evaluations, providing extra support for those rated as "developing."
Class sizes have been capped across various grades, and CPS will allocate $40 million for extra staffing to manage class sizes. The funding model ensures all schools receive essential resources, with extra support for high-need schools.
Elementary teachers' preparation time will increase by 10 minutes daily, totaling 350 weekly minutes, without reducing student instructional time. The contract also enhances healthcare benefits, including expanded coverage and tuition reimbursements for additional qualifications.
The proposals await approval by the CTU's big bargaining team and CTU House of Delegates. Upon ratification, the contract will be submitted to the Chicago Board of Education for approval, covering School Years 2024-25 to 2028-29.
