Full Breakdown
Chicago Teachers Union and Illinois Federation of Teachers Seek Billions in Special Legislative Session
6/25/2026, 10:04:43 PM
Union Funding Request and Legislative Push
The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) have jointly called on Governor J.B. Pritzker to convene a special legislative session aimed at raising additional revenue for Chicago Public Schools (CPS). The unions are seeking roughly $2 billion, describing the amount as “what we are owed,” and have urged Mayor Brandon Johnson to repeat a December 2025 tax-increment-financing initiative that previously allocated $1 billion to CPS. The request is framed as a class-warfare effort to fund education by taxing the “ultra-wealthy.”
Background: Union Influence and Funding History
The unions have historically been major contributors to Democratic political campaigns, with reported spending exceeding $1 billion on candidates and related activities. In return, Democratic officials in Illinois have approved pension and compensation packages that analysts have linked to fiscal pressures on state and municipal budgets. The current funding demand follows a pattern of union-driven budget increases, with CPS operating on a $3 billion budget that has risen annually.
Key Figures and Organizations
- Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) – represented teachers and staff in CPS.
- Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) – statewide teachers’ organization.
- Stacy Davis Gates – President of CTU and IFT, who framed the funding request in class-warfare terms.
- Jitu Brown – Chicago Board of Education member, who articulated the $2 billion demand.
- Brandon Johnson – Mayor of Chicago, former teacher, linked to the 2025 financing plan.
- J.B. Pritzker – Governor of Illinois, who pledged additional money but did not address performance concerns.
- Randi Weingarten – President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
- Rebecca S. Pringle – President of the National Education Association (NEA).
Student Performance and Funding Data
Statewide proficiency data show that 38 % of public-school students met math standards and 52 % met English-language-arts standards in the most recent Illinois Report Card. In Chicago, only two out of five students meet the district’s lowered proficiency thresholds, and 40 % are classified as chronically absent. The unions argue that additional funding is needed to address these outcomes.
Official Statements & Responses
- Jitu Brown demanded “the $2 billion that we are owed just adequately funds, but when you are repairing harm you have to fund above and beyond.”
- Governor Pritzker acknowledged rising expenditures and stated that “the unions are right that they need even more money,” while promising further financial support.
- Stacy Davis Gates called for a special session to generate revenue from high-income individuals, positioning the request as a remedy for systemic inequities.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics highlighted the unions’ political activism, including participation in May Day protests and calls for boycotts of wealthy businesses, as unrelated to classroom outcomes. The report also noted that despite increased spending, student proficiency remains low. Additionally, the unions oppose a federal tax-credit scholarship program that would enable vouchers for public, private, and homeschool settings; AFT President Weingarten and NEA President Pringle have publicly rejected such voucher options.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The source provides specific proficiency percentages and funding figures but does not present independent verification of the unions’ $1 billion political contributions or detailed breakdowns of how additional funds would be allocated. No alternative performance metrics are offered to contrast the reported data.
Verbatim Quote
“The $2 billion that we are owed just adequately funds, but when you are repairing harm you have to fund above and beyond.” — Jitu Brown, Chicago Board of Education member
What’s Next
Governor Pritzker is expected to decide whether to convene the requested special session. Simultaneously, legislative deliberations on the federal tax-credit scholarship program will determine whether voucher-type funding mechanisms are adopted or rejected in Illinois.
