CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 10: Thousands of Chicago public school teachers and their supporters march through the Loop and in front of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) headquarters on September 10, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 26,000 teachers and support staff hit the picket lines this morning after the Chicago Teachers Union failed to reach an agreement with the city on compensation, benefits and job security. With about 350,000 students, the Chicago school district is the third largest i
By SOPHIA TAREEN and JASON KEYSER / Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) -- An attorney for the Chicago Teachers Union says contract talks are still progressing, but negotiators do not expect to reach a final agreement to end the teachers strike until at least Sunday.
Robert Bloch says the union is still working out details of the deal and hopes to present a full contract proposal to union delegates sometime Sunday. If the 700 delegates vote to approve the package, teachers could return to the classroom Monday.
The walkout is the first by Chicago teachers in 25 years. It has canceled five days of school for more than 350,000 students who had just returned from summer vacation.
Key issues at the bargaining table have been a teacher evaluation system that uses student test scores and job-security measures for laid-off teachers.