Data shows a large portion of educators in unions

High-profile battles between state governors and unions — most notably those in Wisconsin and Ohio — as well as labor's failed efforts at a gubernatorial recall election in Wisconsin, have left some feeling that labor unions are long past their heyday.

Chicago teachers victory on incorporating test scores into evaluation may help students

CHICAGO | While the nation watched the Chicago Teachers Union, Chicago Public Schools and Mayor Rahm Emanuel clash over new teacher contracts this year, many teachers in Houston watched in awe.

Chicago schools CEO has 'right-sizing' plan

CHICAGO | Chicago Teachers Union leaders want a moratorium on school closures to start this year — not next fall as proposed by the new CEO of the city's public school system.

On heels of strike, teachers union braces for school closure fight

CHICAGO | More than a month after Chicago's first teachers strike in 25 years, union members are gearing up for what they say is their next big fight: possible school closures.

Math quiz: Count the kindergarteners' tests

Isaac Biggs is a first-grader. He has already taken four tests this year. Critics of heavy testing say early school grades should focus more on relationship building and developing routines.

Math quiz: Count the kindergarteners' tests

CHICAGO | How many standardized tests do Chicago Public School kindergarteners actually take? The answer, it seems, depends on who you ask.

On heels of strike, teachers union braces for school closings

Michael Sacco and Carole Ramsden, organizers with the Chicago Teachers Solidarity Campaign, gather donations at a forum Saturday night addressing lessons learned from last month's teacher strike and plans to fight potential school closures.

CPS board president 'pleased' by contract vote

CHICAGO | Chicago Board of Education President David Vitale says he's pleased that teachers ratified a new contract.

Teachers Union to start count of ballots on proposed contract

CHICAGO | Chicago Teachers Union officials are set to start counting the ballots that its members cast on whether they want to accept a proposed contract.

Chicago strike likely to affect other Ill. schools

Teachers picket Sept. 18 outside Morgan Park High School in Chicago as a strike by the Chicago Teachers Union continued into its second week. The seven-day strike kept 350,000 students out of class.

Chicago strike likely to affect other Illinois schools

SPRINGFIELD | Parents across Illinois may want to take a close look at the Chicago teacher strike and what it produced. It could affect their local schools for years to come.

Chicago strike likely to affect other Ill. schools

Teachers picket Tuesday outside Morgan Park High School in Chicago as a strike by the Chicago Teachers Union continued into its second week. CTU members in the nation's third-largest city will vote Oct. 2 on their new contract.

Teachers unions to fight 'top-down' school reform

CHICAGO | Seeking to capitalize on the momentum of the Chicago teachers strike, unions and allied parent and community groups promised Friday to launch a nationwide fight against government-led school reform efforts that they say are only making public education worse.

Teachers to vote Oct. 2 on their new contract

CHICAGO | The Chicago Teachers Union says its members will vote Oct. 2 on a tentative contract with the school district that was reached after a seven-day strike.

Chicago Teachers Union president is brash advocate

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, right, tells reporters Sunday at a news conference outside the union's headquarters that the city's 25,000 public school teachers would walk the picket line Monday after final-day talks with the Chicago Board of Education failed to reach an agree…

Chicago teachers union president is brash advocate

CHICAGO | She's brash and blunt, the tough-talking union leader who has taken on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a bitter contract dispute regarded as a referendum on the future of the nation's third-largest school district.

Chicago teachers union gives 10-day strike notice

CHICAGO | The Chicago Teachers Union issued a 10-day strike notice Wednesday, saying teachers in the nation's third-largest school district are ready to walk off the job for the first time in 25 years.

Classes in Chicago expected to start on time

CHICAGO | It looks like classes in Chicago Public Schools will begin on time after the head of the teachers union says she has no plans to file the 10-day strike notice this week.

Sides dig in as Chicago teachers strike looms

Chicago Teachers Union members picket prior to a Chicago Board of Education meeting on Wednesday in Chicago. The union called for fair contracts with higher pay for its teachers.