Chicago Teachers Union taking students out of class to vote for Johnson’s real estate tax hike

The event, which is taking place on March 15, likely violates school district rules that make clear students can’t attend a political event during school hours. Staff activity in such an event also likely violates the CPS Code of Ethics.

The Chicago Teachers Union and allies of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s real estate transfer tax hike push, Bring Chicago Home, are spearheading an event to get students to the polls ahead of the March 19 election. It is being billed as “a day of political engagement” for students.

The event, which is taking place on March 15, likely violates school district rules that make clear students can’t attend a political event during school hours. Staff activity in such an event also likely violates the CPS Code of Ethics. Per the CPS Code of Ethics, ““Employees are permitted to engage in Political Activity on a voluntary basis during non-work hours, vacation, or personal time. Employees are not permitted to engage in Political Activity during any other Board compensated time.” Political activity is defined as: “Preparing for, organizing, or participating in any political meeting, political rally, political demonstration, or other political event.”

The event is a partnership between the Chicago Teachers Union and pro-tax hike groups such as Bring Chicago Home, Chicago Votes and La Casa Norte. CTU is asking its members, including teachers, to organize voting age students to attend this day of political engagement.

CTU Vice President Jackson Potter, in an email, offers students assistance in determining how they should vote on behalf of his union. “Do you remember your first time? Were you nervous? Excited? Confused at what to do? What if instead of standing in a long line and feeling overwhelmed by a mountain of conflicting information, you were able to get voting support from the candidates themselves and vote for the first time alongside your friends and classmates? That’s exactly what we want to offer voting age students from CPS schools across the city at the Students Power Forum.”

Encouraging their students to volunteer for a particular campaign could violate those rules, and could result in the employees’ discipline. CTU is encouraging teachers to send students to a political event. Teachers should not be participating in this sort of behavior.

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates previously told WTTW News that such behavior was unethical, when former Mayor Lori Lightfoot asked CPS teachers to encourage students to help her win re-election in return for class credit during the 2023 election.

“She was concerned teachers who decline to volunteer for the mayor’s campaign, or encourage their students to do so, could face retaliation,” WTTW reported at the time.