* Sun-Times…

Teachers for the Acero charter schools network began picketing Tuesday morning, canceling classes for thousands of students, and marking a historic event that charter founders believed they’d never have to face: the nation’s first-ever strike by charter school educators.

Picket lines shut down 15 government-funded campuses operated by the privately-managed Acero, which used to be known as the UNO Charter School Network. Acero teachers were bolstered by support from the Chicago Teachers Union and national labor leader Randi Weingarten.

“We’re going to stay on strike until we get educational justice for the people who work in Acero charter schools,” Jesse Sharkey, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, said during a press conference ahead of the early-morning picket line. “Our teachers are here to do the right thing by their students.”

In all, some 550 teachers and paraprofessionals aren’t showing up for classes at one of the largest charter networks in Chicago, forcing Acero’s management to close its doors to the 7,500 students enrolled.

* NBC 5…

Bargaining ended without a deal shortly after midnight, CTU said in a statement, with teachers and paraprofessionals saying management has “failed to move” on isses including class sizes, special education staff, resources and more.

The union wants a contract that supports a higher wage for paraprofessionals, with CTU leaders saying they make about $13,000 less per year than the union’s members at Chicago Public Schools.

The teachers also want additional resources for their classrooms and students, claiming that the school network spent $1 million less in staff salary costs for program services than in 2017, wants to keep class sizes at 32 students, and won’t provide educators with more lesson planning time, among other issues.

* ABC 7…

Acero schools CEO Richard Rodriguez posted a Youtube video after the bargaining was over expressing his disappointment in the decision.

“The sad fact is that interests from outside our community are using our students and our schools as a means to advance their national anti-charter school platform,” Rodriguez said. “They don’t want our schools to succeed because it doesn’t serve their agenda.”

* Chalkbeat…

In a statement, Helena Stangle, chief external affairs officer of Acero, told Chalkbeat that the company would do its best to avoid a strike: “We have worked in earnest to reach an agreement that provides a reasonable and competitive compensation package to our teachers and staff, while maintaining the best possible educational outcomes for our students.”

* Washington Post…

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools released a statement saying that it was “disappointed with the breakdown of contract negotiations, prompting charter public school teachers who are unionized to strike.” It also said that the organization has “always honored the contribution of charter teachers, who work daily to create safe and productive learning environments for all students,” but it went on to attack the Chicago Teachers Union for failing to partner with the charter community.

* WBEZ…

Acero officials have argued that any proposal to reduce classroom size will take away educational opportunities from students.

In the final stages of negotiations, union leaders said they received financial documents detailing Acero revenue increases in 2018. That revenue, union leaders say, should go into classrooms instead of higher salaries for top school administrators.

Acero officials have said the increase in funding is the result of a change in Illinois law that modified the formula used to calculate charter schools funding. Those funds, Acero officials say, have been going toward hiring and costs for facilities. The funds were also going to the proposed new contract with the union, Acero said.

* CTU…

Management has been denying resources from its schools, and ended 2018 spending $1 million LESS in staff salary costs for program services than in 2017, according to an audit that management provided Friday morning—months after educators first began asking for it. As of June 2018, ACERO had $24 million in unrestricted cash in its accounts, plus a separate reserve of $4 million in cash as part of its requirements to its bond holders.

Yet they remain unwilling to provide a penny more in compensation to paraprofessionals, their lowest wage workers. Management has also refused to move on a host of other critical issues that would improve the quality of education for students and reduce staff turnover rates, which are currently averaging over 30% in a two-year cycle. […]

Overall, ACERO’s cash position increased by $10.6 million in just one fiscal year—yet they have said that they cannot give paraprofessionals ANY wage increase—even an increase that allows their wages to keep pace with inflation. Management also tendered a salary ‘increase’ for teachers so paltry that CTU members describe it as laughable. That move, say bargaining team members, was designed to pit teachers against paraprofessionals—a strategy educators reject.

* Toni Preckwinkle…

As a former schoolteacher, I know how important it is for educators to have access to the resources necessary to give all children a bright future and the best possible education. Today, I stand in support of the more than 500 Chicago Teachers Union members on their historic strike at UNO/Acero schools in Chicago.

In my campaign for Mayor, ensuring students from every community has the resources to succeed is one of my core values. I will ensure the voices of all educators are heard and work towards ending the bad practices of the charter school industry. I support these educators in their fight for fair wages, smaller class sizes and the inclusion of sanctuary school language in their contracts.

* The Tribune looks at the big picture…

After years of growth, Chicago’s charter school movement is facing growing turbulence.

Illinois’ new governor has pledged to hold off on charter expansion, citing “challenges” the independently operated campuses have brought to the education ecosystem.

Chicago’s pro-charter mayor is stepping down, raising the prospect of a new direction for the city’s enormous school district. The Chicago Board of Education is expected to deny three new charter applications and close two low-performing schools this week.

Now hundreds of educators at the city’s Acero charter school network walked off the job Tuesday, halting classes for 7,500 predominantly Latino students and launching the nation’s first strike over a contract at the publicly funded schools.

The charter school strike offers a vivid illustration of how growing union influence and new political leadership might signal big changes for how charter schools operate in Chicago.

* The NYT zooms out even further…

The action is the latest mass teacher protest in a year when educators have closed ranks in places where organized labor has historically been weak — first in six conservative or swing states where teachers walked out of classrooms, and now in the charter school sector, where unionization is sparse.

All of the picket lines have formed out of a dispute over public dollars — whether education funding is adequate, and what percentage of the money should go toward educator pay and classroom resources versus other costs.

* Related…

* Signaling waning enthusiasm for charters, Chicago officials move to deny all new applications

* With Political Headwinds Rising, Constance Jones Becomes 1st African-American Woman to Lead Chicago’s Noble Network