More than 25,000 members of the Chicago Teachers Union hit the picket lines on Oct. 17 after the city failed to meet their demands for larger salary increases, smaller class sizes and more support staff in schools.

Teachers across the city got relief from oversize classes this fall at a faster pace than ever before — thanks to new class-size reduction provisions negotiated as part of the 2018 Department of Education-UFT contract and implemented citywide in September.

The UFT has endorsed incumbent Jumaane Williams for New York City public advocate in the Nov. 5 general election. The decision passed the union’s executive board on Oct. 21.

The Department of Education on Sept. 24 amended its 2019–20 school calendar to make Monday, Dec. 23, part of the school holidays. “We are happy this issue has been resolved, and in a way that gives parents, educators and school communities adequate notice of the change,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

This is the Oct. 24 issue of the Staten Island parent newsletter.

This is the Oct. 16 issue of the Bronx parent newsletter.