Chicago Public Schools to Remain Open on May 1, Allowing Staff and Students to Attend Rallies

District reaches agreement with teachers' union to provide buses and paid release time for civic engagement events.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:40pm

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Chicago Public Schools will not cancel classes on May 1, but has agreed to provide buses for students and teachers who choose to attend an afternoon rally and other civic engagement events. All CPS staff are expected to report for a full day of work, but principals can approve field trips to May Day events. The district will also give paid release time to 65 CTU bargaining members later in May to advocate in Springfield for school funding.

Why it matters

This agreement represents a compromise between the district's desire to maintain instructional time and the teachers' union's push to designate May 1 as a day for civic action and protest. It allows the school community to participate in commemorating International Workers' Day while avoiding a full-day school closure that could disrupt families.

The details

Under the agreement signed by CPS and the Chicago Teachers Union, the district will provide 100 schools with bagged lunches and transportation to civic events or a rally in Union Park. CPS has also agreed to designate a professional development day on May 1, 2028, the next year the holiday falls on a weekday.

  • CPS and CTU signed the agreement on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
  • May 1, 2026 is the date of the planned civic engagement events and rallies.

The players

Macquline King

CEO of Chicago Public Schools.

Chicago Teachers Union

The labor union representing teachers in the Chicago Public Schools district.

Brandon Johnson

Mayor of Chicago, a former Chicago Teachers Union organizer.

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What they’re saying

“This agreement preserves the classroom time students deserve and respects our staff and families who must be able to trust CPS to uphold the academic school year calendar.”

— Macquline King, CEO, Chicago Public Schools

“Encouraging participating allows Chicagoans to honor our history while advocating for our future. We look forward to a day of meaningful solidarity and community resistance to the forces trying to tear us apart.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago

What’s next

CPS will provide 100 schools with bagged lunches and transportation to civic events or a rally in Union Park on May 1, 2026. The district will also give paid release time to 65 CTU bargaining members later in May to advocate in Springfield for school funding.

The takeaway

This compromise between CPS and the teachers' union demonstrates the delicate balance of maintaining instructional time while also allowing the school community to participate in civic engagement and commemorate important labor history. It sets a precedent for how districts can work with unions to honor workers' rights and activism without fully disrupting the academic calendar.