Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teachers are among the highest-paid in the country, with a median salary of nearly $95,000, which is 21% higher than the suburbs of Cook County. CPS also claims it offers the highest pay for teachers in any large U.S. school district. Despite these high salaries, the Chicago Teachers Union is demanding 9% annual raises, setting the stage for a potential strike as early as February. In addition to these salary demands, CPS faces an alarming trend of teacher absenteeism: over 41% of teachers were absent more than 10 days during the 2023-24 school year, a significant increase from 31% in 2016-17. This issue has worsened in recent years, raising concerns about teacher attendance and accountability.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/24/editorial-chicago-public-schools-teachers-absenteeism/
