Chicago cancels public school as officials and teachers reach impasse over remote learning

Chicago officials canceled classes for hundreds of thousands of public school students on Wednesday after reaching an impasse with the city's teachers union.

Chicago officials canceled classes for hundreds of thousands of public school students for two days this week after reaching an impasse with the city's teachers union over whether in-person learning was safe during a wave of COVID-19 infections.

City leadership, including Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, had asked teachers to continue in-classroom instruction. But 88% of the Chicago Teachers Union's leadership and 73% of its members voted on Tuesday in favor of remote education.

Immediately after the vote, officials canceled all in-person and virtual classes on Wednesday. They announced Wednesday night that instruction will be canceled again on Thursday.

Teachers and students are welcome back in school buildings on Friday, according to Pedro Martinez, chief executive of the schools.