Chicago Charter School's back in session after tentative deals reached

Teachers and Staff at the Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy and the Insituto Justice Leadership Academy, both run by Instituto del Progreso Latino, are returning to work after reaching a tentative deal late Monday night, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. This follows a deal reached between Latino Youth High School teachers and the Pilson Wellness Center which runs the school Sunday. Teachers at all three schools are represented by the Chicago Teachers Union.

Teachers at Latino Youth agreed to go back to work after winning a promise of more mental health support for students and curricula that reflects the cultures and background of their students, according to the Sun-Times.

IHSCA and IJLA teachers saw the expansion of union recognition to clerical staff, a decrease in class sizes, sanctuary language to protect immigrant students, protections for English Language Learners and special education students as well as better wages and improved staffing ratios for social workers, nurses, counselors, and psychologists.

The agreements bring to a close the first ever simultaneous strike by educators at charter schools operated by different parent companies.