Overview
- King, who reiterated her stance Thursday, said schools should stay open on May 1 and asked the Chicago Board of Education to take a formal public vote if it wants to change the calendar.
- The board could still overrule her since a majority of members reportedly support canceling classes, but no special meeting has been announced.
- In a memo obtained by reporters, King cited a survey showing 113 schools plan key May 1 activities such as field trips, college decision events, sports, and AP makeup testing, and she warned canceling would disrupt meals and services many students rely on.
- The Chicago Teachers Union is pushing to swap in a teacher professional development day from June 5 so students are off May 1, has filed a grievance over scheduling, and points to a state law that lets teens take one excused civic-event absence rather than a districtwide closure.
- Mayor Brandon Johnson has voiced support for letting students miss school for May Day, board members are split, and more than 315,000 CPS students and their families face uncertainty less than a month before the planned protests.