Chicago Public Schools Parents Oppose May Day Civic Engagement Plan
A group of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) parents and community members have expressed opposition to the district's decision to hold a day of civic engagement on May 1, known as International Workers’ Day. The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) had advocated for the day to be a teacher-directed professional development day, aligning with a national action for 'no school, no work, no shopping.' However, CPS reached a compromise to keep classes in session while allowing students to participate in an afternoon rally and teachers to implement a civic engagement curriculum. Some parents, like Judy Velez, have raised concerns about transparency in the decision-making process and the content of the curriculum, fearing it may be more about indoctrination than education. The Urban Center, a pro-school choice group, organized a news conference to voice these concerns. CPS has stated that participation in civic activities is voluntary and must align with district and state standards. 
