OPT OUT NEWS: Teachers to hold rally in support of Opt Out at Saucedo Monday March 10... 'CPS and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) have performed a most unusual feat � they have turned a detour into a disaster...' said CTU vice president Jesse Sharkey
The Chicago Teachers Union announced on March 7, 2024, that it would hold a rally at the "Network" office in support of the teachers at Saucedo elementary school who voted not to administer the ISAT tests and against bullying by administrators of Chicago Public Schools.
PRESS RELEASE BELOW HERE:
Cassie Creswell of "More Than A Score" speaks to the press during the press conference held at Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy announcing the fact that the teachers had voted to boycott the ISAT test. On the left above wearing the union "Let Us Teach!" button is Saucedo teacher Sarah Chambers. Substance photo by David Vance.Chicago Teachers Union to lead rally Monday in support of teachers, families participating in ISAT opt-out... Gathering is part of a citywide �Let Us Teach!� day of action against district bullying and retaliation
MMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Stephanie Gadlin. 312-329-6250
CHICAGO�The Chicago Teachers Union on Monday will launch a citywide �Let Us Teach!� day of action and rally for families and teachers in their recent stand against the Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT) in Chicago Public Schools. The rally will be held from 4-6 p.m. at the CPS Pilsen-Little Village Network office at 501 W. 35th St. in Chicago in support of the more than 1,700 students at 80 schools� including three charter schools�who were opted out of this week�s ISAT, and joined teacher-led decisions to teach instead of test at Saucedo Scholastic Academy and Drummond Montessori School.
Over the past two weeks, the district has responded to the mass opt-out with misleading and contradictory communication to families and Local School Councils, in-school harassment and threats of decertification against boycotting teachers, and intimidation against parents and students who have opted out or wish to opt out of the ISAT.
�CPS and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) have performed a most unusual feat�they have turned a detour into a disaster,� said CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey. �Parents chose to opt out and teachers wanted to teach, and had CPS and ISBE acted with more calm and made a simple adjustment in course, it�s doubtful that anyone who didn�t work at CPS or send their kids to a CPS school would even be talking about the ISAT.�
WHO: Chicago Public Schools parents and teachers, the Chicago Teachers Union and community partners
WHAT: �Let Us Teach!� rally against CPS bullying and retaliation, and in support of families and educators choosing learning over testing and opting out of the Illinois Standards Achievement Test.
WHEN: Monday, March 10, 2014. 4-6 p.m.
WHERE: CPS Pilsen-Little Village Network #7, 501 W. 35th St., Chicago, IL 60616
The Chicago Teachers Union represents 30,000 teachers and educational support personnel working in the Chicago Public Schools, and by extension, the more than 400,000 students and families they serve. The CTU is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Federation of Teachers and is the third largest teachers local in the United States and the largest local union in Illinois. For more information please visit CTU�s website at www.ctunet.com.
