Teachers' union demands higher pay contribute to 'chronic absenteeism' in Chicago Public Schools, report suggests.

Teachers in the Chicago Public School system have been absent more than 10 days during the 2023-2024 school year, resulting in "chronic absenteeism," according to a new report.

According to the Chicago Tribune, over 41% of CPS teachers took more than 10 days off last year, in addition to the built-in vacation time allotted for the school year, which included 10 days for winter break, 5 days for spring break, and 8 additional days off for holidays.

The profession uses a statistical benchmark of 10 days to monitor chronic absenteeism among teachers, according to the Tribune.

Amid ongoing contract negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union, who are demanding a 9% annual raise for teachers, the report reveals that the median salary for CPS teachers is close to $95,000, according to the outlet.

The union of teachers is advocating for an additional $50 billion in funding to cover wage increases and other demands, including providing fully funded abortions for members, new migrant services and facilities, and a range of LGBTQ-related requirements and training in schools.

Despite delivering underwhelming results for its students, the massive demands are still being made. According to the Nation's Report Card, only 21% of the city's eighth-graders are proficient readers.

The union's demand for raises cannot be met by the district, and the CPS Chief Labor Relations Officer Miguel Perretta stated that the district will not concede, according to ABC7.

In September, a Chicago high school had no teacher for several weeks because of chronic absenteeism by educators, according to the Chicago Block Club.

Nearly half of Clemente teaching staff had more than 10 absences in 2023, according to CPS data. This means that about 46 percent of the teaching staff missed the equivalent of at least two weeks of school.

Stacy Davis Gates, the Chicago Teachers Union President, stated on a news radio show in June that conservatives are against Black children learning, as it is part of their right-wing ideology.

Mayor Brandon Johnson received a letter from Bill Gates, in which he demanded the inclusion of Black history in the teachers' contract following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, according to ABC7.

Gates expressed concern that teaching Black history in Chicago could be hindered due to potential federal restrictions on curriculum in the era of Trump.

On Sunday, the Chicago Tribune deemed the salary demand as "excessive" in an editorial.

What exactly are Chicagoans receiving for the $30,000-per-student they are currently paying, the highest per-student investment in Illinois, as CTU continues to make outrageous demands of city and state taxpayers? Why does CTU only demand more but never discuss what its members owe the taxpayers (and parents) of this city?

CPS did not respond to Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment.

Planet Chronicle' Joshua Q. Nelson contributed to this report.